16 Jun Dave’s Journey as a Licensed CRE Agent Over the Years
Estimated Read Time: 6 Minutes
Dave Kerscher is Senior Vice President of Miller Diversified Realty and has been a licensed CRE agent for over 46 years! With that much experience, Dave has a lot of wisdom (and some funny stories) to share!
Q: Do you remember your very first listing (or closing)? What was the building? Were you nervous, excited, or how did you feel?
The first transaction I ever did as a licensed CRE agent was a single family investment property on Joffre Avenue in Toledo. I had been licensed for about 2 weeks and I remember being both very excited and nervous, however, I was very fortunate to have been helped along with the guidance and support of the listing agent in my office who happened to be a very well trained and seasoned veteran Realtor with about 19 years in the business at that time. We closed on the transaction from about 45 days from receiving that “Floor Call” and my lifelong career had begun!
Q: What have you found most valuable about working and living in the same community your entire career?
I think that there is quite an advantage for someone who lives and works in the same area for an entire career as I have been fortunate to do. It seems very often that there is so much information I have compiled over the years about the area’s history and how it has developed, grown, and evolved throughout generations with respect to our real estate industry.
Armed with the knowledge of those activities and with the resources we have these days, I find myself tapping into and recalling past or historic moments and events from time to time, to apply and use those events in other situations that help me with not only having the good fortune and pleasure of knowing a good deal of people, but also keeping those relationships fresh through everyday activities while expanding and establishing new acquaintances and friendships.
Q: You obviously take pride in your work. What are some of your standard practices with every client? Have these evolved over the span of your career?
I guess what I have learned and been focused on in my career has been my trying to be the best communicator as possible. In my mind, communication is key between a Broker and client and frankly, anyone with whom you are in communication with since our business is so reputation driven. It is key to always put your best foot forward in any situation and always be aware that you are doing so. I find that most, if not all clients, like to hear from their Agent/Broker, even if there is little or no activity to report; they still like to know that there is a constant communication portal open between you and them.
Like most of us in every day life, clients like to feel that they are the most important client, even though the agent may be servicing many clients at the same time. This has certainly changed through the years with the Internet age and the ability to connect with people instantaneously. However, I think that someone tends to stand out and be remembered if they would pick up the phone, or set up a short scheduled drop by meeting, rather than do what might be as easy as sending someone an email or text. To this day, I even write notes and letters to past, present, and hopefully future clients.
Q: You’ve been in a lot of buildings. What’s the strangest thing you’ve encountered when entering one of the buildings?
I have had more than a handful of interesting moments touring properties over the years. One that stands out is a time I was showing a large vacant warehouse in the downtown Toledo warehouse district. The listing agent explained to me that I would need to enter in through a particular door at the building and, about 10 to 15 feet just inside that door, I would find the Electrical panel which would illuminate the large warehouse space for us to see it better. Well, once inside, I had my little flashlight focused on the wall where the electrical panel was supposed to be and I hear this quick tapping coming towards me from about 70 feet away and getting closer. I felt something was not right, so I quickly went back to entry door and closed it, with my clients still standing outside waiting on me to illuminate the building inside…
…Well, about 5 seconds later, Wham! , something slammed into the door from the inside, and then, GROWLLLL, BARKK!! BARK!!! BARK!!!! It turned out to be a very large guard dog inside that caught us all by surprise. I immediately called the owner of the building, and he nonchalantly told me, “oh yeah, that’s Brutus. I forgot to tell you that I put him in there last night to deter people from getting in”. Well, needless to say, we did not see that particular property that day, but we did write an offer on a different building a few blocks over, which we ultimately closed on a few weeks later. From now on, I make it a habit to ask if is there is any “Security” on site when I schedule to show vacant buildings!
Q: Before you became a licensed CRE agent, is there any other career path you considered?
Early on in my teenage life, my dad always encouraged his kids to “whatever you choose to do in life, be your own boss”. I knew that I wanted to be in business for myself someday, but I did not know exactly what I wanted to do or be involved in the business world back then. So, during summer breaks from BGSU, I had the opportunity to go to work at a high school friend of mine’s dad’s residential construction company, Wesson Homes, where I would help frame in homes for his customers who bought a home to be built. It was great being a 19- and 20-year-old kid and being outside all day long getting a good workout and suntan, but then I thought about wanting something greater in the real estate industry.
My mom encouraged me to get my real estate license, so I enrolled at UT during the second summer for some night courses offered needed to obtain my Ohio Real Estate license, thinking it might be something I could fall back on if the corporate business world didn’t work out. Well, as I worked part time in the real estate industry while still in school, I began making some serious contacts and closed on some transactions, and that helped catapult me into realizing that this was going to be my “Job”, at least for a while. I really enjoyed all the aspects of the business. Well, after 46 years and counting, I still look forward to being involved in my chosen vocation every day!
Q: If you had one bit of advice for someone just getting into Commercial Real Estate, what would it be?
I guess I would encourage anyone to be prepared for a rollercoaster ride, as in this business, there are many victories, disappointments, and surprises along the way! Also, I would certainly hope people would not give up nor take anything negatively or personally from anyone, but learn from all experiences, both good and bad, and store that information away somewhere so they can possibly use it in the future and for their own benefit. I know it can be difficult, but I personally have benefited from turning negatives into positives in this business and still enjoy every day doing so! It really is true in this business that even when a window closes, somewhere a door opens.
To learn more about Dave and see his listing, visit his bio page!